2018 Award Winners

Strategic Vision – D.C. Metro

The D.C. Metro regional volunteers strategically approach volunteer engagement by defining roles and expectations among volunteers and communicating chapter activity using social media platforms. The regional leaders proactively recruit new members and efficiently uses volunteers’ time to ensure participation by planning events well in advance.

Honorable Mentions: Boston, Richmond

Campus Connector – Orlando

Throughout the year, the Orlando regional group incorporated W&M into their events in many ways. For example,they took advantage of staff ties by inviting the Executive Director of the W&M Alumni Association Marilyn Midyette to speak at the Yule Log ceremony. The Virginia Schools Happy Hour was held at a wine bar to tie it back to Virginia. Tribe Pride swag was distributed at sports games and the chapter made a conscious effect to connect the Tribe and Disney employees and enthusiasts.

Honorable Mention: Charleston, Houston

Critic’s Choice – Charleston

The Critic’s Choice award was awarded to Charleston for hosting an outstanding and memorable Yule Log event. Net Promoter Scores are used to indicate attendees’ satisfaction with an event and how engaged they are with the hosting organization; the Charleston Yule Log received a perfect NPS score of 100 and had greater than a 20% survey response rate.

Honorable Mention: Orlando

Educational/Cultural– Richmond (Brunch at the Opera)

Every spring, the Richmond regional engagement group has a pre-performance brunch in the Dominion Arts Center for the chapter to mingle with Virginia Opera staff, who educate members of the Tribe about the opera performance and encourage Q&A. Following the brunch, attendees have the opportunity to watch an amazing performance!

Honorable Mentions: Charlottesville-Highlands (Fralin Museum of Art Tour and Rooftop Social), South Hampton Roads (“William & Mary was Founded on Pirate Loot” Lecture by John Millar M.A. ’81)

Family – South Hampton Roads (Breakfast at the Zoo)

William & Mary families met at the zoo for breakfast and the unique opportunity to preview the zoo before it opened to the public. Attendees enjoyed a continental breakfast together and saw a wide variety of animals while exploring the nearly empty zoo!

Honorable Mentions: Richmond (Children’s Museum of Richmond Picnic and Flying Squirrels Game), Charlotte (Charlotte Knights Game)

Service – Charlottesville-Highlands (James Monroe’s Highland Service Days)

W&M alumni worked alongside the James Monroe’s Highland team to build a new 8-mile trail system to be a free public attraction. W&M Charlottesville has continued to work with the staff of Highland, the historic home of alumnus James Monroe, to plan more service days for trail upkeep and expand educational and recreational offerings.

Honorable Mentions: D.C. Metro (Service to Veterans through Wreaths Across America), Lower Northern Neck (Work Day at Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck)

Signature – Williamsburg-Peninsula (Grand Illumination)

The event has become an annual tradition for the Williamsburg-Peninsula Chapter. A reception is held in the President’s Suite at Zable Stadium during Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination. Attendees enjoy guest remarks, a reception and a beautiful show of fireworks!

Honorable Mentions: D.C. Metro (Evening at the Embassy), Roanoke (Yule Log)

Olde Guarde – Lower Northern Neck & Botetourt (Tribe Thursdays)

The Lower Northern Neck & Botetourt held joint Tribe Thursdays and worked together to find location offerings that would accommodate both sitting and standing options for attendees and reasonable pricing. Dates for events were chosen within Daylight Savings Time to avoid attendees having to drive in the dark.

Young Guarde – Chicago (Alumni Volleyball Team)

Young Guarde formed an intramural volleyball team which brought many new young alumni to chapter events for the first time and allowed for members to get to know one another better over the course of the season.

Honorable Mention: D.C. Metro (Charter Day and Charter Day of Service)

Unique – Colorado (W&M Day on the Slopes)

The chapter met early for a continental breakfast with alumni, parents and friends. After breakfast, attendees received green and gold bandanas to identify Tribe members on the mountain while they skied or snowboarded. After enjoying a spectacular day on the slopes, the chapter concluded the day with a happy hour in Center Village.

Honorable Mentions: Williamsburg-Peninsula (Annual Dinner with the Tribe Basketball Team), Roanoke (Exam Care Packages)

Leadership/Giving – N/A

Past Award Recipients

Prior to 2018, the Alumni Association awarded an Outstanding Alumni Chapter, Premiere Chapters, Most Improved Chapters and an Honorable Mention each year based on Standards of Excellence submissions. View a list of past award recipients.